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Capital Credits

The difference between a member-owned cooperative such as Barron Electric and an investor-owned utility is that the same people who purchase electricity from Barron Electric also own the cooperative. As owners, all members share in the cooperative's margins. Barron Electric has retired capital credits through 1995. When the board of directors retires capital credits that you earned while purchasing electricity from Barron Electric, you may receive a check. In 2017, Barron Electric returned $600,000 in capital credits. Continuously from 1965, the cooperative has paid back over $25 million in capital credits. If a member passes away, there are two payment options for capital credits. These include:

1. Annual Pay-Out: The cooperative will pay out capital credits on an annual basis until the account is settled.

2. Lump Sum Discounted to Present Day Value: “Present day value” takes into consideration the fact that money presently received has the power to earn more money in the future. Therefore, the amount paid to an estate is discounted by the amount of interest it would have earned if held until it was due.

Barron Electric tries to locate people who have not claimed their capital credits through advertisements in local media. Click on the link above to view a list of people who have unclaimed capital credits. If you can help us find these people, please contact our office at 800-322-1008 or billing@barronelectric.com. Unclaimed capital credits are put into a trust and used for such things as scholarships, library donations, cooperative education, and specific donations.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives is a national network of electric cooperatives across 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy cooperatives stand as a source of power and information to their 32 million member-owners every day.